2024 NFL Mock Draft: Should Rams Pick Pass Rusher or QB?

With a rare first-round pick, the Los Angeles Rams select a pass rusher in a new NFL Mock Draft.

Welcome back to the NFL Mock Draft world, Los Angeles Rams fans. 

For the first time since the Rams selected quarterback Jared Goff with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, general manager Les Snead is slated to have a first-round selection this spring.

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NFL Media's Daniel Jeremiah has released his first 2024 mock draft, and while he leaves open the possibility of the Rams taking a quarterback, he ultimately has them using the No. 19 pick on UCLA pass rusher Laiatu Latu. 

"I wouldn’t rule out a quarterback with this pick. The Rams could follow the Packers’ Aaron Rodgers-to-Jordan Love blueprint and begin developing a passer behind Matthew Stafford," Jeremiah wrote. "If they don’t go that route, continuing to add pass rushers would be a smart move." 

Earlier this week, we delved into the possibility of the Rams using their first-round pick on a quarterback and having him sit behind Stafford, something that Jeremiah floated on a radio appearance. 

Latu spent the first two years of his collegiate career playing for Washington, before transferring to UCLA and playing under coach Chip Kelly. While with the Bruins, Latu became one of the elite edge rushers in the country, racking up 23.5 sacks in two seasons at UCLA. Additionally, Latu had 49 total tackles, 21.5 tackles for a loss, two forced fumbles and two interceptions in 2023, earning him a unanimous All-American selection. 

While there are some medical concerns about a neck injury that cost Latu both the 2020 and 2021 seasons, he put together consecutive productive seasons at UCLA after that. The Draft Network calls him "an NFL-ready defender" with "the 2024 draft's best pass-rush package."

Assuming three-time Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald returns to the Rams for an 11th season, adding Latu could give the Rams a pretty ferocious pass rush. Defensive tackle Kobie Turner and outside linebacker Byron Young both had excellent rookie seasons for the Rams, and the addition of Latu could be what helps the Rams to go from playoff participant to Super Bowl contender in 2024.